Monday, April 14, 2008

Even with my excruciatingly busy schedule, I am able to find small tidbits of time to let my creativity out. My most recent endeavor has been constructing an "altered book." Making altered books is a way to recycle old books that nobody reads into a work of art that is pleasing to the eyes and fun to touch and hold. It can include elements of collage, painting, photography, poetry, journaling, stamping, sewing, or whatever else that can fit inside the covers of a book! And even if it doesn't fit, you can always cut out a secret compartment in the pages of the book and put something special in it. It can be whatever you want it to be.

I've always been interested in scrapbooking and painting and photography, but I usually don't have a special project to work on. I don't often remember to take pictures on my travels, and I'm always afraid that I'll "mess things up," if I try making a scrapbook.

When I first learned about altered books, I was skeptical. (I mean, what kind of person would cut and paint and decoupage in a PERFECTLY FINE BOOK?! Scandalous!) But then I saw some pictures of altered books and it immediately captured my attention. Here are some examples of altered books: (I didn't make any of these)

Isn't that cool?

Anyway, it inspired me to make my own altered book. I began searching for a suitable book to use. I wanted an old, thick, mysterious book that was dirt cheap or free. I finally found what I was looking for at a homeschool book sale. In a box marked "Free Books- Take One" I found a single discarded volume from a world history set that was published in 1906. Perfect!

I took it home and made my crafty plans. I have ideas for a travel spread, a winter spread, an enchanted forest spread, and perhaps some other pages, but with altered books it is better to only make a few pages, because if you make too many, it won't be closeable.

So far I have painted the cover and made the title page, which reads:

"Destinations & Discoveries: The Observations and Dreams of a Curious Mind." It's nothing fancy yet, but the beauty of making altered books is that you can always add to it later. When I get a chance, I'll post some pictures of my work-in-progress.